Reach for the shades! Oprah Winfrey is simply dazzling in a shocking pink wrap dress at Los Angeles premiere of Lee Daniels' The Butler

It's hard to ignore the queen of the TV talk show Oprah Winfrey at the best of times.

And when she's dressed in a shocking pink, figure-hugging dress and taking command of the red carpet, to overlook her would be frankly impossible.

The chat-show queen and sometime actress stepped out at the Los Angeles premiere of Lee Daniels' The Butler on Monday night - in which she takes on her first major movie role since the 1998 flop Beloved.

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Knockout: the chat-show host knows how to dress to grab attention on the red carpet

Oprah ensured she was a talking point in the bright dress which she teamed with pewter peep toe pumps and hooped earrings.

She embraced co-star Forest on the red carpet, hugging him and holding his hands for photographs.

And the actor was more than complimentary about her acting skills, telling Access Hollywood: 'We'd talked about working together before. But this came along and she was so giving.

'She was so powerful in the movie and she's going to blow people away. She's so emotional, so powerful and funny, too. It was totally unexpected from her performance. I think people are going to be very, very happy.'

Their co-star Minka Kelly, who plays Jacqueline Kennedy in the film, opted for a bright red dress, black high heels and a half beehive style updo.

Making an arrival: You know when the legendary Oprah Winfrey is in town

Suits you: Oprah carries off the brightest of bright pink dresses with aplomb

Friend of the stars: even acclaimed actor Forest Whitaker wants to pose with Oprah

She joined co-star James Marsden, who
plays President John F Kennedy, in signing autographs for fans waiting
on the street outside the Regency Theatre in the Westwood area of Los
Angeles.

Cast members Cuba Gooding Jr and Jane Fonda, who plays Nancy Raegan also arrived at the screening, with Fonda sporting a beige trouser suit and matching shoes.

In the movie, Forest Whitaker portrays the butler Cecil Gaines and Winfrey his wife Gloria in a story inspired by the life of Eugene Allen, a White House butler who served eight different US presidents.

Embraceable you: Oprah hugged Forest before the screening

And while the movie is already being tipped for Oscar success, he insisted he is trying not to get too caught up in the furore.

Forest explained: 'I'm excited for the film because I think it gets people out to the theatre. It's, like, August so I try not to get caught up in things like that but I am very proud of the movie and I think it has a lot to say. It's moving and funny and filled with family and love.'

But the actor conceded The Butler is a 'very special film'.

He added: 'He [Eugene Allen] served eight presidents and saw the movement of the country. What's interesting is that he saw the civil rights act and then goes home and experiences it in his life.

'You get to emotionally to feel what it was like through him, so I think it's a very special film for that reason.'

Altogether now: David Oyelowo, Lee Daniels, Oprah Winfrey, Forest Whitaker line up for the group shot

Oprah, 59, took some persuasion to take the role, according to director Lee Daniels in an interview with The Daily Beast.

He said: 'She auditioned - but I begged and pleaded with her to. David [Oyelowo] was on board first, and he didn’t have to audition, and then Oprah came in to do a reading with Forest.

'I
knew immediately that the chemistry was a Molotov cocktail. Magic. They
read the birthday scene where they find out that their son Charlie is
dead. And it took me about seven or eight months to convince her to take the part.'

Give us a twirl: Minka Kelly, who plays Jackie Kennedy, looks cute as a button in this pretty, red dress

Iconic role: Minka plays Jacqueline Kennedy in The Butler

The two first ladies: MInka Kelley and Jane Fonda cross generations

Golden girl: Jane Fonda, who plays former First Lady Nancy Reagan in the movie, shimmers in a gold trouser suit

Oprah's reluctance to accept the role was due to fear she would embarrass herself after being stung badly following the failure of Beloved, she told the New York Daily News.

This crisis of confidence came despite winning an Oscar nomination for her acting debut in The Color Purple in 1985.

'I mourned that [Beloved] for a long time, she told the paper. 'I went into - I wouldn't say severe depression, but I could tell that this sadness I was feeling had sort of taken me over.

'I felt like I was behind a veil. I had literally said to myself, "If I am depressed, who am I going to talk to?"'

The newly-weds: Jimmy Kimmel and his new wife Molly McNearney attend the star-studded opening night at the Regal Cinema

More famous faces: actor Cuba Gooding Jr - here with his wife Sara Kapfer - is also on the castlist

First on board: David Oyelowo - here with Jesse Williams - was the first big name to sign up, according to Lee Daniels

The TV icon bounced back but the experience put her off the idea of acting again.

And when The Butler role came knocking she said: 'It did scare me very much.I
said to [Lee Daniels], "I just don't want to embarrass myself".' Lee
said, "You won't. Trust me!" I said it was me I have to trust.

'When
you have a big, big so-called failure such as that, you have to look at
it for what it can teach you.

'How
can it grow you up so that you don't have to go through that kind of
suffering again? It doesn't mean you won't have it again, but that -
that impact - cannot happen again.'

Star of the show: Forest penned his signature for the dozens of waiting fans

Meet and greet: James Marsden signed autographs for fans outside the event